title: Prevalence and clinical characteristics of the DSM IV major depression among general internal medicine patients.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The aim of this study was to investigate the prevalence and clinical characteristics of the DSM IV major depressive disorder (MDD) among patients admitted to the General Internal Medicine Service of the Geneva University Hospital.
  
  
  METHODS
  557 patients admitted to the IM of the Geneva University Hospital aged 18 to 70 were investigated. Each subject was assessed by a clinical psychologist using the SCID (Structured Clinical Interview Depression for DSM-IV) questionnaire.
  
  
  RESULTS
  69 patients (12.4%) met diagnostic criteria for MDD (men: 8.8%, women: 16.9%, p=.004). Among subjects with major depression, depressed mood (97%), fatigue (91%), and diminished interest and pleasure (81%) were the most prevalent symptoms. Recurrent thoughts of death were present in 48% of depressed patients.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  This study raises further evidence that an elevated proportion of patients admitted to an acute care general internal medicine facility meet DSM IV criteria for MDD with nearly half of depressed patients suffering from recurrent thoughts of death. It emphasizes the necessity of a targeted, continuous, and active support given by the psychiatry liaison service in the internal medicine setting.
authors.affiliation: Liaison Psychiatry and Crisis Intervention Service, Department of Psychiatry, University Hospitals of Geneva (HUG), Hôpitaux Universitaires de Genève, Rue Gabrielle-Perret-Gentil 4, 1211 Genève 14, Switzerland. Electronic address: babak.moayedoddin@hcuge.ch.
authors.forename: Babak
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Moayedoddin
authors.forename: Grégoire
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Rubovszky
authors.forename: Laurent
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Mammana
authors.forename: Emilien
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Jeannot
authors.forename: Marlène
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Sartori
authors.forename: Nicolas
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Garin
authors.forename: Antonio
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Andreoli
authors.forename: Alessandra
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Canuto
authors.forename: Arnaud
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Perrier
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D059445:Anhedonia; D015331:Cohort Studies; D003865:Major Depressive Disorder / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000523:psychology; D039721:Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders; D005221:Fatigue / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000523:psychology; D005260:Female; D006748:Hospital Departments / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D006801:Humans; D007297:Inpatients / Q000523:psychology / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D007388:Internal Medicine; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D015995:Prevalence; D013557:Switzerland / Q000453:epidemiology; D055815:Young Adult
keywords: DSM IV; General hospital; Internal medicine; Major depression; Prevalence